A portable electronic device, such as a portable computer, a personal digital assistant and a mobile telephone handset, includes a main board module having opposite first and second sides, and a keyboard module mounted on and coupled electrically to the main board module. The first side of the main board module is formed with an opening and a keyboard receiving cavity that extends from the opening toward the second side. The keyboard module is received in the keyboard receiving cavity and is capable of being pulled to extend out of the keyboard receiving cavity via the opening. As such, other control devices, such as a touch control panel and a pen input panel, can be provided on a third side of the main board module that interconnects the first and second sides.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A portable electronic device, comprising: a main board module having opposite first and second sides, said first side being formed with an opening and a keyboard receiving cavity that extends from said opening toward said second side, said first and second sides being front and rear sides of said main board module; a keyboard module mounted on and coupled electrically to said main board module, said keyboard module being received in said keyboard receiving cavity and being capable of being pulled to extend out of said keyboard receiving cavity via said opening, said keyboard module including left and right keyboard parts having adjacent rear inner corner portions that are coupled pivotally to each other about a pivot axis, said keyboard parts further having confronting lateral sides, said keyboard module further including a coil spring disposed between said confronting lateral sides of said keyboard parts for pushing said keyboard parts to pivot away from each other when said keyboard module is moved out of said keyboard receiving cavity via said opening, said keyboard module further including a curved support rod having said coil spring sleeved thereon, said support rod having opposite ends mounted respectively on said confronting lateral sides and extending respectively into said keyboard parts; and a display module coupled pivotally to said main board module adjacent to said rear side.
2. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein said display module includes a liquid crystal display panel.
3. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein said keyboard module is formed with a pair of tabs that slidably engage an interior of said keyboard receiving cavity, said opening being formed with a pair of end flanges that abut respectively against said tabs so as to prevent removal of said keyboard module from said keyboard receiving cavity.
4. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein said keyboard receiving cavity has an innermost end wall, said portable electronic device further comprising at least one coil spring interconnecting said keyboard module and said end wall of said keyboard receiving cavity.
5. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one stop member mounted movably on said main board module and operable so as to block selectively movement of said keyboard module out of said keyboard receiving cavity via said opening.
6. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein said main board module further has a third side that interconnects said first and second sides and that is provided with a touch control panel.
7. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein said main board module further has a third side that interconnects said first and second sides and that is provided with a pen input panel.
8. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein said rear inner corner portion of each of said keyboard parts is formed with a hole-defining lug, said lugs of said keyboard parts being superimposed one upon the other and defining axially aligned fastener holes, said keyboard module further including a pivot fastener that extends through said fastener holes and that couples pivotally said keyboard parts.
9. The portable electronic device of claim 1 , wherein said keyboard module has a distal end portion provided with a hand-supporting cushion thereon.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
March 7, 2001
April 29, 2003
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